[Sca-cooks] Silk Road timeframe, take 3

[Terry Decker]

> However, I seem to remember that Morgana may have been specifically
> talking about overland travel. Again the speed of this will depend  upon 
> the century. Some centuries it was unlikely or would at least  take a lot 
> longer because of the multitude of kingdoms on the way and  which ones 
> were at war with the others.
>
>
> Stefan

Until the Modern Period, the common speed over the Silk Road was the speed 
of the Bactrian camel, except for the high altitude passes into India where 
mules, yaks and men were the standard transportation.  So end to end it is 
about two years journey given peace and good weather.  Banditry discouraged 
travel outside of the caravans.

A light cavalry command with remounts and riding hard (a Mongol army) could 
probably have done it in 120 days considering some of the historical 
reports, but a bad season in the Takalmakan might have stopped them cold. 
Mongol post riders would have been able to cover the distance in about 30 
days.

I'm beginning to think spices did not travel over the Silk Road, but started 
at either end and were traded into Central Asia.

It's a very big subject and I've barely begun to scratch the surface.

Bear